If it was any other day, Hunter would have been thrilled driving in a flashy Porsche, speeding down the streets like a maniac. But it wasn’t any other day. It was one of the shittiest days he’d had in a very long time. It was the mother of shittiest days ever.
He glanced at the clock on the dash, then at James sitting next to him looking at his phone every ten seconds.
“No word yet?” Hunter looked back at the road.
“Not yet.”
Hunter tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “We’re twenty minutes away, if we haven’t heard anything by then, we’re doing this my way.”
James scratched his chin and checked his phone again. “We can’t afford to make any mistakes tonight, Hunter.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“Well, thinking you will be able to shoot your way in there is a huge mistake.”
Hunter gave him a sideward glance. “I don’t see you coming up with a better idea.”
“The only way to beat Rex is to play him at his own game. He’s young, but he’s not stupid. He’s twisted, but he’s not reckless. So if we have any chance of walking out of there alive and with Scarlet, you’ll need to act the part.”
Hunter pulled his hand through his hair. “I told you, I can do it.”
“Can you? Can you act like she’s nothing more to you than a piece of flesh, a toy to play with? Because that’s what you’re going to have to do if you want to convince Rex you’re a stone-cold son of a bitch like him who only wants his property back.”
Hunter snapped his head to the side. “I said I can do it, okay? I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back safely.”
“Good.” James reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a blue velvet box.
“What’s that?”
James opened the box, and inside was a black collar with three rows of diamonds diagonally across on the top, middle, and bottom.
“What the fuck is that?” Hunter asked as he glanced at the collar.
“If you manage to convince Rex that Scarlet is yours, you will need to reclaim her by putting this around her neck.”
Hunter cocked a brow. “No way. I am not collaring her. This isn’t a fucking erotic romance novel, Baxter.”
“I know that,” he snapped. “I fucking know this isn’t a damn romance novel, Hunter. Do you think I want to witness my daughter get treated and collared like a damn sex slave? No. But there is no other fucking way. This shit is as real as it gets, and you need to follow the fucking rules—their rules.”
“You talk like someone with experience.”
James lowered his head before letting out a breath. “It’s difficult to live in this world for so long without succumbing to temptation at least once,” he said softly.
Hunter didn’t say anything. Besides, who was he to judge? There was a time when he succumbed to the dark side of sex more than once—a time when he let all his demons come out to play. It was a dangerous game he played back then, feeding the monster inside him with such dark shit. Soon, it was no longer enough. He kept wanting more and more, and after one night of almost going too far, Hunter realized that for a guy like him, the risks of playing such games were just too great. So he stopped, and decided to cage the animal inside him, to only feed it little pieces of darkness at a time—which was why his past was filled with such a colorful display of sordid activities with multiple women.
Until her…Scarlet.
Hunter glanced out the side window before focusing on the road in front of him. He had to get her back. There was no way he would survive losing her. After years of feeling nothing, Scarlet had managed to finally let him feel something. So there was no question, if he had to tap into his deepest, darkest self to save her, he would.
“Like I said, I can do it.”
“Why are you so sure this is something you can do?”
Hunter hesitated before answering, “Because I’ve done it before.”
The most uncomfortable silences settled over them, and the only sounds that filled the background were the roar of the engine and tires rushing over the asphalt.
“You can’t fuck this up, Hunter. You’re going to have to push all your feelings for her aside, and you will need to harden yourself. If Rex senses any kind of emotion other than possessiveness when it comes to Scarlet, we’re screwed.”
Hunter swallowed hard. “What can I expect to find when I walk in there, Baxter?”
James’s phone went off, and the air was so thick with tension that it sounded like a damn bomb exploded between them. Hunter’s heart started to race like it had the urge to climb out of his throat. For the five seconds it took James to read the text, it felt like Hunter was going to rip his own damn skin off.
James turned toward Hunter. “Expect the worst.”
“Fuck.” Hunter stepped on the gas and sped down the street, taking turns with screeching tires.
If what he imagined as being the worst was what he was about to walk in on, he wasn’t so sure he’d be able to keep calm. Just thinking about Brent or any other man laying a hand on Scarlet—touching her—made Hunter want to rip someone’s heart out.
“Brent has the front gates secured, how are we going to get in?” James asked while he clutched the side of the passenger side door.
“Don’t worry about that. I know a way in.”
Baxter glanced at him questioningly.
“Don’t ask.”
Within minutes Hunter parked the Porsche on the side of the road and stared at the wall he used to lean against waiting for Blue while they snuck around seeing each other. The moment was almost wistful. Almost. But knowing Scarlet was on the other side of that wall made him want to think about one thing and one thing only—wrapping his arms around her and never ever letting her go again.
“Let’s go,” Hunter said, and opened his door.
James grabbed his arm and Hunter paused.
“She’s my daughter, Hunter.” James looked at him with dark, overcast eyes. “Please promise me you will do everything necessary to get her out of there.”
For the first time since Hunter met the man, he saw weakness. His daughter was his weakness, and Hunter respected that.
“I’ll get her out, Baxter. Or I’ll die trying.”
James nodded and they both jumped out of the car, sprinting across the street.
“How are we supposed to get over this wall?” James asked.
Hunter grinned. “Finally my past has a way to benefit my future.”
When they rounded the corner, Hunter found what he was looking for. There was a tree growing just on the outside of the wall that would make it real easy for them to climb over. It was also one of the spots where Hunter and Blue would hide.
Again, almost wistful.
James snorted. “I am not going to ask how you knew about this.”
Hunter climbed into the tree, then extended a hand to James, helping him climb up too. With a lot of grunts and scrapes, both of them were over the wall and in one of what seemed like ten thousand maple trees growing on the estate.
From here, Hunter was going in blind. He had never set foot on this side of the wall before, so he had no idea where he was going.
He jumped from the tree and landed on his feet, staring out in front of him. The fact that it was almost dark didn’t help either.
James landed with a thud next to him. “Come on, I know the way from here.”
Thank God.
They rushed through the trees, twigs and branches cracking beneath their feet. The closer they seemed to get, the wilder Hunter’s heart started to beat. He could already feel the fire in his veins, the fury in his chest thinking about all the things he wanted to do to every fucker inside that house. If they so much as laid a hand on her, not even God Himself would be able to help them.
As they passed an old wooden barn, Hunter paused and stared at it. Was this the barn Scarlet had referred to? Was this the barn where Brent had stolen everything from her?
The vivid image of Brent doing the unthinkable to Scarlet infected his mind, causing every drop of blood flowing through his veins to pump more determination into him to find her.
Hunter made a mental note to burn the fucking barn down after all this was over and turned to James. “How do we get in?”
James shrugged, and then someone answered, “Through here.”
Both of them looked to the right, and when Hunter saw who it was, he lost it.
“You son of a bitch!”
Hunter launched forward, running toward Colton, his fists already balled.
“Hunter, stop!” James yelled, but Hunter ignored him. All he wanted to do was to break the little shit’s neck.
Colton reared back as Hunter started to swing his arm, aiming for Colton’s face. When Hunter missed, he was suddenly tackled to the ground.
“Stop!” James tried to get a good enough hold on Hunter.
“I’m going to kill him!” Hunter yelled, his vision pure crimson.
“Hunter, calm the fuck down.”
“Are you insane?” Hunter continued to thrash until James could no longer keep him down. When Hunter got off the ground, he glared at James, who was standing next to Colton. “He betrayed us. If it wasn’t for him, Scarlet would be safe right now.”
“I know,” Colton said hesitantly. “And I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it.”
“I had no choice, Hunter.”
“Like hell you didn’t.” Hunter wanted to launch himself at the fucker again, but James jumped in between them.
“Listen. We can either stay out here and kill each other, or we can find a way to get to my daughter.”
Hunter didn’t take his eyes off Colton. He wanted to break the fucker’s neck before cracking his spine in half. But James was right. This was not the time. Getting to Scarlet was all that mattered.
James turned to Colton. “Can you get us in?”
He nodded. “Follow me.”
As Colton walked by, Hunter grabbed him around his neck and started squeezing, pulling him closer.
“If anything happens to her, if they so much as touch a hair on her fucking head, I will tear you apart inch by fucking inch.” He squeezed some more, but Colton didn’t make a sound. He didn’t even attempt to loosen Hunter’s grip around his throat.
“Hunter, let him go,” James ordered.
With a glare from hell, promising a profound amount of pain in the very near future, Hunter gave one last squeeze just for good measure before letting go of Colton’s neck and shoving him backward.
Colton coughed as he sucked in a breath, and just glared at Hunter without saying a word. Good boy. Hunter was so close to snapping his fucking neck that if the bastard even attempted to open his damn mouth, Hunter would lose it.
When Colton finally caught his breath and straightened, the somber expression on his ugly face gave Hunter the chills.
“What the fuck is going on, Riggs?” Hunter demanded.
Colton glanced from him to James. “It’s Rex.”
James stepped up. “What about him?”
“He’s doing what he does best.”
“And what’s that?” Hunter asked.
Colton looked at him. “Playing.”
And then James cursed. “Fuck!”
“Where is she, Riggs?” Hunter grabbed him by the shoulder. “Tell me where she is.”
“They have her in the dining room.”
Hunter shoved him forward. “Lead the way.”
“Listen to me,” Colton said. “What you’re about to walk in on, you can’t lose your shit, Hunter.”
Hunter’s blood ran cold. “What are they doing to her?”
“Like I said, Rex is in the mood to play, and you’re not going to like what you see. But you need to keep your shit together.”
Hunter stormed forward and pushed Colton hard against his chest, sending him stumbling backward. “If you don’t take me to her right now, I’m going to lose my shit right here.”
“Hunter, I’m serious.”
“So the fuck am I!”
Colton roughed his hand through his hair and dropped a shit load of F-bombs. Hunter didn’t care. He didn’t care if the fucking Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse came around the corner riding on galloping unicorns. All he cared about was getting Scarlet back.
“Follow me,” Colton finally said. “Just keep your guns out of sight. This place is swarming with Rex’s men.”
James fell into step next to Colton. “Do we know why he’s here yet?”
And then it all clicked together.
“Holy shit.” Hunter grabbed James’s shoulder. “It’s him, isn’t it? The guy you said you had on the inside—it’s soldier boy here?”
James didn’t answer.
“Baxter, did you know about this? Were you in on his plan all along?”
“No, of course not,” James blurted out. “I would never go along with something like this.”
“He didn’t know, Hunter,” Colton chimed in. “I acted alone. But it was never my intention to let her get hurt, which is why I didn’t destroy the bug you planted on her, even though I knew about it.”
Holy fucking shit. Hunter didn’t know which one of them he wanted to punch first. Was it possible for two full-grown men to act so fucking stupid?
“Remind me to kick both your asses when all this is done. Now let’s go.”
Hunter and James followed closely behind Colton while carefully scanning the surroundings. As they walked up the stairs to what looked like the back porch, two men with rifles positioned themselves at the top, waiting for them.
Hunter placed his hand on the gun he had tucked in his side and studied both of the men, ready if they even thought about making a move. James did the same.
“Gentlemen,” Riggs started. “These guests are here to see Rex.”
Hunter tightened his grip around the gun, his heart beating a staccato rhythm against his ribs. There was a part of him that hoped these fuckers would be hostile so that he had an excuse to go all Terminator on everyone’s fucking asses. But to his disappointment, they coolly stepped to the side and allowed them to enter the house.
How the fuck did Riggs do that? How did he manage to get all these people to trust him in less than a fucking day?
It was simple…he gave Brent what he wanted, and now Riggs had the SOB’s eternal fucking gratitude. What a bunch of fucking idiots.
Stepping into the house, Hunter didn’t even pause for a second to admire all the crappy knickknacks laying around. He didn’t care that it was a huge-ass mansion that screamed shit loads of money. All he cared about was finding her.
“Where is she, Riggs?”
“Through here.” Colton stepped up to a door, but as he reached for the knob, he paused. “Hunter, you need to—”
“Open the fucking door.” Hunter was done hearing about how he needed to keep his shit together. He knew the stakes. He knew everything depended on him playing it cool and remaining calm.
Colton turned the knob, and Hunter watched as the double dark wood doors slowly creaked open. Like the loud rumbling of thunder, Hunter’s heart beat inside his chest, and for a few soul destroying seconds he stopped breathing…until he saw her.
And then he lost his shit.
“What the fuck!” Hunter stormed inside when he saw Scarlet chained to the table, half naked and crying while Brent was licking his slimy motherfucking tongue up her leg.
Murder.
Death.
Pain.
The three main things that Hunter felt the compelling need to do. Murder the motherfucker, bring him death while inflicting the maximum amount of pain humanly possible.
Two men rushed from the side, blocking his way, and aimed four guns at his head.
“Riggs!” Hunter yelled. “What the fuck is going on here?”
Scarlet’s head jerked in his direction, and when her eyes met his, he saw more tears stream down her face while she made the most horrific moans, the sound shooting straight through his chest. Her mouth was gagged with blood at the corners, and her cheeks red from crying. With everyone yelling, chairs screeching across the floor, all he heard was her whimpers—her cries—and it was turning him into a fucking mad man.
“You filthy motherfucker!” Hunter just reacted, not even taking two seconds to think it through.
He grabbed one of the asshole’s arms in front of him, twisted it, and then pushed down on the guy’s hand gripping the gun, forcing him to pull the trigger—but not before aiming it at the other guy’s chest.
Blood gushed from the man’s chest, oozing out of the wound like red pus. At that moment, with all the rage pumping through Hunter’s vision, he loved the sight.
“Hunter, stop!” James rushed in, but Hunter wasn’t close to being done. The guy Hunter had a hold on started fighting and thrashing, but in the state Hunter was currently in, there was no way anyone would be able to beat him. He had one goal, and one goal only—to get Scarlet off that goddamn table and kill every goddamn motherfucker in the room.
Hunter started pounding the guy’s side, slamming fist after fist into the exact same area, inflicting the worst damage possible. The second Hunter felt the guy’s fight leave him just a little, he twisted his arm up, pointed the gun at the guy’s temple, and once again forced his finger down on the trigger.
It was like the motherfucking Fourth of July with fireworks of blood and brain matter exploding everywhere.
Hunter tossed the half-headless dead weight to the floor and then his vision zeroed in on Brent, who seemed frozen, still on his knees, crouching over Scarlet’s legs.
Just as he went to rush forward, to rain down his fucking wrath on that psycho, the sound of a gunshot penetrated his murderous haze.
When he looked to the side, he saw a man he didn’t recognize holding a gun at Scarlet’s head.
“Well, you sure know how to make a memorable entrance,” the man said.
“Rex,” Colton said, and Hunter narrowed his eyes as he stared at the man. So this was Rex, supposedly the evilest man everyone thought had the power to defeat the devil. “This is Hunter Keaton, and he’s here claiming that Scarlet is his.”
“Yeah. So I’d point that gun somewhere else if I were you,” Hunter warned.
“No, I think it’s in my best interest if I keep it right here.” He pushed the gun harder against Scarlet’s temple, and she whimpered. Hunter’s heart was racing, sounding like a train on a rickety track about to lose control.
Four more men came pouring into the dining room, each armed with some big-ass rifles, circling around Rex like he was the damn Russian president.
Brent, with his freakishly white hair, got off the table and stood about six feet away. Hunter really wanted to carve the fucker’s face off.
“Why the hell is he still alive?” Brent glared at Colton.
Colton walked around the two dead bodies on the ground. “Sir, I tasked Killian here,” he pointed at one of the corpses, “to kill him. Obviously, he didn’t do it.”
Hunter snorted. “Obviously.”
Well, he had to give soldier boy an A for thinking on his damn feet. Blame the dead guy; it always worked like a charm.
Brent lifted his ugly as shit eyes and glared at Hunter. “Well then, I guess I’ll just have to do it myself.”
He pulled out a gun from his waist and pointed it at Hunter’s face. Hunter didn’t even flinch.
“Hold on,” Rex interrupted, and Brent immediately paused. Even he was scared of this Rex dude.
Rex looked at Hunter. “Is Colton right? Are you claiming that Scarlet belongs to you?”
“She sure does,” Hunter replied.
“He’s lying,” Brent spat out. “She’s mine. He’s the one who took her from me.”
Hunter bit his teeth into his lower lip, wanting to launch himself at Brent so he could claw his insides out of his gut.
“Now, now,” Rex said abruptly. “Let’s settle this like gentlemen, shall we? There’s no need for more bloodshed.”
“Oh, trust me, I can still shed shit buckets full of blood right now,” Hunter said, his gaze darting down to Scarlet every two seconds. He would slaughter every one of these men if it meant he would get her out of there. The blood he already had on his hands would never be enough, not until she was safe.
“Rex.” Brent rushed around the table toward him. “This man is an imposter. She does not belong to him. She is mine.”
Rex held up his hand, silencing him like one would a child. By the look of disgust on Brent’s face, he didn’t like it one little bit, but Hunter loved to watch the bastard squirm.
“So, Hunter, is it?”
Hunter nodded.
“You are aware of our slave honor code—if we can call it that?”
Hunter scoffed. “Honor? None of you fuckers have any honor.”
James nudged him in the shoulder. “Hunter, keep your cool.”
Fuck. He was trying. But he didn’t think it would be this damn difficult, especially since he had to stare at Scarlet gagged and bound to a table with her breasts sticking out for everyone to see. Every possessive bone is his body was urging him to pop out every eye that had seen her like this, to cut off every hand that had touched her, and to rip off every man’s head who had pondered lustful thoughts about her.
It would be less painful if someone had pierced a blade through his back, carving up his spine, than to think of what they had already put her though.
Hunter focused his glare on Rex. “I know that no master is allowed to touch the property of another without consent. And this fucker right here,” he pointed at Brent, “did more than just touch.”
With his gun still firmly pressed against Scarlet’s temple, Rex rubbed his chin with his other hand. “It seems like we’re in quite the predicament. Two men claiming ownership on one woman.” He looked down at her. “Although I can’t say I blame you. She is quite the…feisty little slave, isn’t she? Sure to keep every master well entertained.” He started to drag the gun down her cheek, slowly down her neck, all around her exposed breast in leisurely circles.
Scarlet jerked her arms and the chains rattled. Her body was squirming on the table, and it took every ounce of control for Hunter not to run to her.
The animal in Hunter was clawing at his chest, wanting out so that he could slaughter the fucker. His muscles tensed, his mouth dry while he bared his teeth, struggling to contain his anger.
Rex noticed Hunter’s reaction and narrowed his eyes, his mouth pulling into a half grin. “So, gentlemen, there is only one way we can settle this. One way to figure out who she really belongs to.”
Hunter didn’t like the sound of this.
Rex cocked his head to the side. “You’re going to have to prove it.”
Hunter frowned. “How?”
“By showing me.”
“Show you what?”
Rex finally removed the gun from Scarlet’s breast and stroked it down her side…down her leg as he slowly walked along the table. “One can always determine who a slave belongs to by the way she reacts to her true master—by the way she reacts to his touch.” Rex was pacing up and down like he was a teacher in the front of a classroom, giving everyone a lesson on slave one-oh-one.
“Although a lot of slaves—as we know—are mostly filled with fear for their masters, it’s not the fear that shows you true ownership. It’s the way the slave allows her body to suppress the fear by giving her master pleasure, and embracing her own.”
Hunter glanced from Rex to Brent, who seemed livid with anger, yet pale with panic. Hunter turned his focus back to Rex. “Enlighten me and get to the fucking point.”
Rex smiled. “Everyone out,” he ordered. “Except you, Hunter. And you.” He nodded to one of the two goons with rifles.
Brent started to protest when Rex just shot him a warning glare, and the coward stepped back, zipping his lip.
James leaned closer to Hunter and whispered, “You need to do exactly what he says. Do you hear me? Don’t try to be a hero; you will only get her killed.” And with that he turned around and walked out with the rest, including Brent.
“Oh, and please send Piper in,” Rex called from across the room, and Colton just nodded.
The moment he heard the doors slam shut behind him, the atmosphere grew thick with even more tension. There was no guessing what this fucker had in mind, what he was about to do, but Hunter could only assume it wasn’t going to be something he would like.
Hunter never took his eyes off Rex. With those calm-looking blue eyes, Hunter knew not to be deceived by them. There was something evil hidden behind those irises, something sinister, warning Hunter not to fuck with this man.
“Listen, why don’t you just give me my girl and we’ll get out of here. There’s no need for this to go any further. I just want her,” Hunter said, trying to stay as calm as possible.
Rex lifted a brow. “You’ve never heard of me, have you?”
“Just some tidbits of information here and there.”
“So then you know how much I like to play.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes. “Unfortunately, I’m not in a playful mood right now.”
“Unfortunately…I am.”
Rex and Hunter kept their eyes locked on each other. The mighty stare-off between men, neither of them willing to back down. The door opened and a petite, blonde woman wearing nothing but a thong got shoved inside.
“Ah, there she is. Piper, come here.” Rex held out his arm and she sauntered her half-naked body right to him.
Hunter took the opportunity to look down at Scarlet, and he mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
She closed her eyes, unable to say anything with the gag in her mouth. Hunter knew how much she hated to be bound and gagged, because that was what her son of a bitch cousin used to do to her. Just thinking about the fear and the panic she had to be in was tearing his fucking soul apart.
“Rex,” Hunter said desperately. “What do I have to do?”
While Rex eyed Hunter, he whispered something in Piper’s ear before she started to move around the room.
“Like I said, I’ll be able to determine whether she really belongs to you or not in seeing how she responds to you.”
And then it dawned on Hunter. “You want me to have sex with her?”
Rex nodded. “In front of me.”
Holy fuck. This guy was more than twisted. “I’m sorry, man, but exhibitionism isn’t exactly my style.”
Rex took a seat on a chair at the end of the table. “I don’t give a fuck what your style is. If you want your girl back, you don’t have a choice.”
Hunter noticed Piper starting to light candles all around the dining room. What the fuck? Did they actually think creating a romantic ambiance would get Hunter in the mood to fuck Scarlet in front of them?
I don’t think so.
Hunter squared his shoulders. “If I refuse?”
“Then I’ll get Brent to do it. Judging by the way he was all over her before you came barging in, I’m willing to bet he’d do about anything to get that dirty cock of his inside her.”
Hunter growled. “If you let that son of a bitch come near her, I will slit his fucking throat.”
“Well then.” Rex placed his hands in his lap like sophistication had suddenly become him. “I suggest you do as you’re told, otherwise I will let Brent come in here. Currently, I’m the dictator here, and the odds are in your favor, my friend. Don’t fuck it up.”
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck, feeling frustrated as hell. James warned him. James told him what a twisted fucker this dude was, and in the back of his mind he knew it would come to something like this. But he’d hoped that it wouldn’t. Fucking hoper.
“Let me speak to her first.” Hunter glanced down at Scarlet.
Rex studied him with intent before nodding, giving him permission.
Hunter rushed forward, letting his hands hover over her body. He didn’t know where to touch her, or if he should touch her. Then he reached for the sides of her torn bustier and tried to cover her breasts, but it didn’t work.
“Scarlet, baby.” He leaned down, finally placing his hands on both sides of her face, wiping the lingering tears off her cheeks. “I’m going to get us out of here, okay? I won’t let anyone touch you again,” he whispered. He didn’t want Rex to know what he was saying. “I’m sorry, but I will make this right.”
The blue eyes that stared up at him pierced through his heart. But the more he wiped her cheeks, touching her face, the calmer they seemed to become. That was also the moment Hunter realized that those eyes—they were no longer Blue. They were Scarlet. It was Scarlet’s eyes staring up at him—and only hers. Every trace of Blue had been wiped away, and all he saw was the woman he had helplessly fallen in love with…Scarlet.
“Do you trust me, Scar?”
Her eyes searched his face for a few seconds, and then she nodded.
“Good.” He leaned down and whispered into her ear, “I’ll take care of you, baby. I promise.”
Hunter straightened and glared at Rex, who was sitting like a fucking king with his one leg on top of the other.
“You want to play? Then let’s play.” Hunter pulled off his jacket and tossed it to the floor.
Rex clapped his hands together. “Excellent. Piper, if you’d please help Miss Woods into a more comfortable position.”
Hunter watched as Piper started to unchain Scarlet’s wrists. The skin on her arms was already bruised and cut, and Hunter could only assume it was from struggling against her bonds. The anger inside him started to churn violently, but he needed to contain it. He needed to tap into the deepest parts of him for this to fucking work. There was no way in hell he would fail her now.
The second Scarlet was loose, Hunter wrapped his arms around her shoulders and helped her off the table. He immediately loosened the ball gag and took it out of her mouth.
Scarlet cried and threw her arms around his neck, soaking his skin with her tears.
God, it felt so good to have her in his arms. All this time he was worried sick, and he couldn’t stop thinking about how much he wanted to feel her again. After all the shit they had been through, constantly pulling and pushing each other, Hunter knew he would never push her away again. In fact, once all of this was over, Hunter would never pretend he didn’t care about her—never again.
“I’ve got you, baby. Soon, this will be all over.”
“Ace,” she breathed, unable to say anything further. By her rapid breathing it seemed like she had run a fucking marathon.
“Shh.” He stroked his hand down her hair. “I need you to be strong, Scar. Just for a little while longer, okay?” He pulled her face away from his neck and forced her to look at him. “Just a little while longer.”
She bit her lower lip and nodded slightly, soft whimpers still escaping her. Hunter felt her body shiver, and he knew her legs were weak by the way she struggled to keep herself up. Dear God, he hoped she would be strong enough to get through this. Fuck knew what she’d already been through.
Piper took Scarlet’s hand, and when the click resonated through the room, Scarlet’s lower lip started to quiver.
Hunter stared at the cuff Piper had just secured around Scarlet’s wrist. It was attached to a chain that came from the ceiling, and Hunter had to wonder how sick these sons of bitches really were if they had chains at the ready in the fucking dining room of all places.
“It’s okay, Scar. I’m here, and I won’t leave you.”
Another click and the second cuff was placed on Scarlet’s other wrist. Hunter made sure he never broke eye contact with Scarlet. He knew how she felt about being tied, left helpless, unable to escape. It was a hard limit for her, yet she had trusted him once by letting him tie her down and allowing him all control. Now she just needed to be brave enough to trust him with this once more.
“Trust me,” he said to her when he noticed her eyes grow wide as Piper tightened the chains, and Scarlet’s arms started to slowly lift up in the air. Even when Piper brought the spreader bar and Hunter knew this was going to get fucking dark, he never took his eyes off Scarlet. He needed her to know he was there and he wasn’t going anywhere. Scarlet needed to concentrate on him, and him alone—not on what was about to happen.
The higher Scarlet’s arms lifted up in the air, the faster Hunter’s heart started to race. Inside his chest was a raging war as his blood boiled and his heart pounded against his ribs like it wanted out. But Hunter pretended to be calm. He needed all his goddamn strength to get both Scarlet and him out of this mess.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered while Piper secured Scarlet’s ankles to the spreader bar.
“Now isn’t that a sight?” Rex said as he stared at Scarlet, standing in nothing but her thong and torn stockings, tied to fucking chains.
Hunter wanted to rip the asshole’s eyes out, but there was a part of him—a very dark part—that agreed with Rex. If this had been under any other circumstances, Hunter would have relished the sight. He would have loved the control that had been handed to him, to do as he pleased, to witness Scarlet surrendering everything to him.
He felt that familiar tingle move up his spine—a feeling he promised himself a long time ago he would never allow himself to feel again. Power.
Piper stepped in next to him and held a cane in her hand.
Hunter shot his eyes up to Rex. “What the fuck is this?”
“Miss Woods broke one of my girls’ noses—which is why I now have to be satisfied with Piper here who isn’t nearly as skilled in sucking my cock as Carla. So I feel a little punishment is in order.” Rex’s eyes gleamed with amusement, that annoying smirk permanently planted on his face.
“There is no fucking way I’m going to punish her,” Hunter seethed. “Besides, as her master, she didn’t disobey me by breaking one of your girls’ noses. In fact, I would have given her permission to if I were here.”
Rex glanced at the man with the rifle, and the man lifted the weapon, aiming at Scarlet.
“If you don’t want to punish her, I will. But I can promise you, I’ll enjoy punishing her far more than you would, and that would be a real bad thing…for her.” Rex winked, and the only picture Hunter could form inside his mind was Rex’s head on a fucking stick.
Rex shrugged. “I think twenty lashes would suffice, don’t you?”
Hunter snorted. “Twenty? No fucking way. Five.”
“Five?” Rex’s eyebrows almost touched his hairline. “She broke Carla’s nose. That deserves at least fifteen.”
Not that this was either the time or the place, but deep inside, Hunter couldn’t help but feel proud. Scarlet hadn’t lost her fight. Even after everything, she still had the strength to fight and break a woman’s nose. Nice.
Hunter took the cane from Piper. “Ten. Ten lashes, but that’s it.”
Rex narrowed his eyes like he was thinking it through, and then finally he nodded. “Fine. But don’t let me suspect you’re holding back.”
Piper walked over to Rex and sat down on the floor beside his legs. Rex reached down and started rubbing her head like she was a fucking pet—which, in his eyes, she probably was. This was insane.
Hunter swallowed hard, closed his eyes, and fucking prayed. He prayed for the strength to get through this—that Scarlet would be able to get through this. He prayed that this wouldn’t be the last shit that would finally send Scarlet spiraling over the edge.
When Hunter started nervously pacing, Scarlet turned her head to him, the chains rattling from the movement.
“Do it.”
Hunter walked up, bringing his face inches from hers, and whispered, “You will need to give me control, Scar. All of it, or he will not buy it. Can you do that? Can you fully submit?”
He saw the hesitation in her eyes and the color drain from her cheeks. She bit her lower lip, pinching her eyes closed for just a second.
“Can you do this, Scar?”
She opened her eyes, and what he saw almost took his breath away. Resolve, determination, strength, it was all there burning behind those iced-blue irises. “Yes, master,” she whispered. And then she said a little louder, “I am ready for my punishment, master.”
She was going with it, she was playing along. And by the way she kept her gaze on him with so much intent, he knew she would be able to do this. She was strong…and she was his in every way.
Hunter wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and then rolled his shoulders. Even though Scarlet tried to assure him that she was ready, he didn’t know whether or not he was ready for this. Sure, he loved spanking her beautiful ass whenever they got it on, but this wasn’t like that. He knew the amount of pain a cane could inflict, and he wasn’t sure if he could do it—not to her.
But he had to. If there was any hope for them to walk out of there alive, he just had to do it.
He walked over to his jacket that was on the floor and pulled out the collar James had handed to him earlier. He didn’t want to. Scarlet wasn’t some kind of fucking animal. She was a woman—his woman. But it was the only way. Their survival depended on this, and if he had to tap into the deepest, darkest parts of his soul, he’d just have to do it and pray the damage wouldn’t be too great.
Positioning himself behind her, he placed the black collar around her neck, purposefully brushing his fingers against her skin, wanting her to feel just that little sense of comfort. Just as he fastened the collar, he softly placed a kiss on her shoulder as he glided his hands down her arms.
Hunter grabbed ahold of all his self-control, all his strength, and then pulled his shirt over his head before starting to pace behind Scarlet, rubbing his hand vigorously through his hair.
How was he supposed to do this without feeling like he was taking advantage of her? Because God knew that was not what he wanted to do. He wanted to take her in his arms and lay her down on satin sheets while he made love to her like he had never done before.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, goddammit. Punishing her with a cane while tied with chains and hanging from the roof was not supposed to happen. But here they were…about to play.
With his shirt in one hand and the cane in the other, he knew he needed to find a way to make her feel like it was just her and him—and no one else. For his own fucking sanity, he needed her to get into it, to embrace what he was about to do to her.
Abruptly he tore a piece of fabric off his shirt, and tossed the rest to the floor. When he stepped behind Scarlet, he leaned in close to her ear as he placed the torn piece of fabric around her eyes.
She gasped.
“It’s just you and me, baby. This needs to be just you and me.” He spoke so damn softly, directly into her ear, careful not to let Rex hear anything he was saying.
She nodded slightly, and he tied the fabric behind her head, blocking everyone else out. Slowly he traced his finger down the side of her neck. “I’m going to take good care of you, kitten.”
He felt her shiver beneath his touch as his finger continued down her back, directly over her spine, and he made a mental note to make sure he touched every damn part of her once all this was over—commit every inch of her to memory.
Gripping the cane, he took a deep breath before stepping back.
Lord help him.
One.
The first lash cracked over the skin of her ass, and she jerked forward, the sound of the chains rattling filling the room.
Two.
Scarlet let out a soft whimper, and it fucking broke Hunter’s heart. He would gladly take a thousand lashes if it meant sparing her from experiencing ten.
Three.
This time, a cry escaped her, and Hunter watched as the red marks started to appear on her skin. The bastard inside him stared at the streaks of blushing red for a breath too long while he remembered the first time he fucked her—the way his handprint protruded from the skin of her ass while she was bent forward, all exposed.
Four.
This time she didn’t let out a sound, only bit down on her bottom lip. It was killing him seeing her in so much pain, but he kept telling himself that he had no fucking choice.
Five.
Her head shot backward as she tried to arch her back, trying to get away from the lashes. Hunter moved closer, pushing his lips against her ear, and whispered, “It’s just you and me, baby, remember that. Don’t feel the pain, feel me.”
Without letting Rex see what he was doing, Hunter inconspicuously traced his finger in lazy circles around her ass, wanting her to experience a soft, subtle touch in contrast to the harsh, painful beating of the cane. That was one thing he had learned from his experience, that as long as there was a balance between pain and pleasure, it would be easier to control. Instantly she relaxed a little, and he heard her take a few deep breaths.
That’s my girl.
Still stroking her ass gently, Hunter glanced down and drank in the sight of the red lashes protruding from her skin. The filthy bastard in him couldn’t help but bite his lower lip, his cock twitching at the sight. He’d be lying if he said it wasn’t one of the most beautiful, most erotic things he had ever seen.
And then…
Six.
Again, she didn’t make a sound. Hunter glanced over at Rex sitting in his chair, eyes glued on them while Piper started to stroke his thigh. The fucker was turned on by this. Fuck him, but so was Hunter.
Seven.
This time Scarlet yelped as the cane landed just above her ass toward her back, and Hunter bit the inside of his mouth so hard he tasted blood. That sound…that damn sound shot straight to his cock. He loved it, and he hated himself because he loved it. The more he acted, the more he felt the darkness consume him. The need to give in to it completely was almost overwhelming, and he knew he had to fight it.
Only three more lashes to go. Hunter could sense Scarlet was close to losing it, close to breaking. So he started to circle her, giving slow, leisurely steps while never taking his eyes off her. The way she moved her head from side to side, she could hear him move around her. All her other senses were heightened since she’d lost her sight.
“If only you could see how fucking beautiful you look right now, kitten” And that was the truth. He wasn’t just saying it in a bid to keep her calm, to keep her focused on him, and to make Rex believe the ruse.
No. It was the goddamn truth. She looked fucking stunning all spread-eagled, blindfolded, and anticipating what his next move would be. For a second, Hunter forgot what this was all about and allowed himself to drink her in—her firm, big, round breasts, the curve of her hourglass hips, and the smooth skin of her thighs. Hunter knew exactly what it felt like to be buried between those thighs. Heaven—that was what it felt like. Fucking heaven.
“Three more, kitten, then there will be no more pain, only pleasure.”
Eight.
Nine.
Scarlet cried out, the sound piercing straight through his damn heart like a thousand sharp pieces of broken glass.
With a deep breath, Hunter swung the cane. One. Last. Time.
Ten.
Thank God.
Hunter threw the cane down with a thud and watched as her head hung down, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The red lines that ran across her ass and lower back had started to swell, but thank God the lashes didn’t draw blood. Hunter was careful not to put his full strength into it without Rex noticing that he was holding back. He was sure he could say mission accomplished since Rex was looking pretty fucking happy right about then with Piper’s mouth around his dick.
Hunter moved closer, pushing his chest against her back, rubbing her ass gently, and whispered against her neck, “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she breathed, but he heard the quiver in her voice.
“You did beautifully, kitten,” he cooed in her ear. “So fucking beautiful.”
Scarlet let her head fall back against his shoulder, her chest rising and falling from the exertion.
He placed a tender kiss on her shoulder, kissing his way up her neck, letting her sweet taste linger on his lips.
“You’re fucking perfect, my little pet,” he said a little louder. “And now I’m going to reward you.”